"There is an agreement in principle about the Saudi foreign minister’s visit to Russia in mid-August," he told journalists, adding that it would be al-Jubayr’s first visit to Russia after his appointment as foreign minister.

"The visit will be paid at the invitation of (Russian Foreign Minister) Sergei Lavrov," Bogdanov said. The agenda, in his words, would include preparations for a visit to Moscow by the Saudi King planned at the end of the current year.